Spotify and Netflix are teaming up to bring video podcasts to the streaming platform in early 2026 for U.S. users. The Ringer’s podcasts, acquired by Spotify in 2020, will cover sports, culture, and true crime, expanding Netflix’s content offerings. More international markets are expected to follow.

Spotify’s Head of Podcasts Roman Wasenmüller praised the partnership with Netflix as a new era for podcasting, providing creators with wider reach and fans with more content choices. Netflix’s Lauren Smith highlighted the fresh perspectives the curated selection of podcasts will bring to the platform.

Popular podcasts like “The Bill Simmons Podcast” and “The Rewatchables” will be among the initial shows coming to Netflix, with plans for more to follow. Spotify sees this collaboration as a step towards a multimedia experience, with future initiatives to support a broader range of creators.

Media companies are increasingly turning to video podcasts as a popular form of content, with Google’s YouTube seeing a surge in viewership for this format. Traditional and streaming companies are adapting to this trend, with Amazon’s Prime Video also noting the success of podcast content in recent multimillion-dollar deals.

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos sees podcasts and talk shows merging, emphasizing the company’s interest in working with top creators across various media. The shift towards video-forward podcasts reflects evolving consumer preferences and content consumption habits in the digital age.

Read more at CNBC: Netflix, Spotify partner to bring The Ringer podcasts to video platform